The Media On-line’s weekly spherical up of individuals, account and enterprise strikes in media.
This week’s BIG transfer: SABC Sport and Hollywodbets carry Afcon to screens
This summer season, the continent unites for Africa’s greatest soccer showdown, the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 (AFCON). Coming LIVE to SABC 2, SABC Sport, SABC Plus and SABC radio stations, the AFCON 2025 broadcast partnership is supported by Hollywoodbets and SABC.
From 21 December 2025 to 18 January 2026, tens of millions of South Africans can have free and quick access to all 52 thrilling matches, rallying behind Bafana Bafana as they compete for continental glory. Followers can anticipate to expertise each objective and victory. This collaboration ensures that tens of millions of South Africans have free and quick access to all the thrill throughout a number of SABC platforms, reinforcing the unifying energy of sport within the nation.
Along with AFCON 2025, SABC Sport and Hollywoodbets have joined forces to carry reside protection of the FIFA World Cup 26, Horse Racing and English Premier League (EPL). Over the subsequent three seasons, SABC Sport will broadcast 38 reside Premier League matches per season, protecting the 2025/2026 to 2027/2028 soccer seasons furthering its dedication to creating world-class sports activities accessible to all South Africans.
Folks strikes
Tribeca welcomes Lungile Mthembu and Lindiwe Mncube to the company
Tribeca Public Relations (Tribeca) has welcomed Lungile Mthembu as an account supervisor and Lindiwe Mncube as an account director, who each carry a singular set of abilities to assist their groups.
Mthembu brings 5 years’ expertise in content material improvement, influencer advertising and marketing, disaster administration, media relations and strategic communications.
“Becoming a member of the Tribeca workforce is a good new problem for me and I can already really feel that this a part of my journey will likely be full of progress and discovery. The company is well-respected within the trade, not only for their nice work, however for the way they deal with their individuals,” Mthembu says.
Mncube brings over 10 years of expertise in a profession honed primarily within the telecommunications, shopper and way of life sectors. She is going to lead a workforce, working with purchasers equivalent to Yulife, Rectron, LEGO, in addition to thrilling new enterprise on the horizon within the shopper monetary companies trade.
“Tribeca’s consumer combine and distinctive strategy to the evolving public relations surroundings offered a beautiful alternative to develop as a well-rounded chief. The nice and cozy surroundings and deeply engrained people-first ethos is immediately recognisable within the firm’s tradition, which implies lots to me, elevating a younger household,” Mncube says.
Carol Ofori introduced because the model ambassador for parodontax
parodontax, a gum care model, has introduced its partnership with media persona, Carol Ofori, who has been named the model’s new ambassador. As a part of this thrilling collaboration, Ofori will likely be an advocate for the model, lending her influential voice to serving to educate South Africans on the significance of gum well being, getting them to know why blood in spit when brushing will not be regular , why they should deal with it and obtain a confidence from the gums up with parodontax, the Gum Specialists.
In her new function, sheis featured within the model’s promoting campaigns and digital content material, sharing important data to assist customers determine and handle their bleeding, swollen and infected gums that are early indicators of gum illness. The partnership goals to empower people with the information they should take proactive steps towards wholesome gums and robust tooth.
CMC Networks appoints Mahesh Jaishankar as managing director
CMC Networks has appointed Mahesh Jaishankar as Managing Director. He’ll lead the corporate’s technique to drive progress in AI-powered connectivity, mixed with on-the-ground experience throughout Africa and the Center East. Jaishankar succeeds Marisa Trisolino, who served as CEO of CMC Networks till her departure in April 2025.
Jaishankar brings intensive management expertise to the function after an advisory place at Arthur D Little and serving as head of strategic negotiations, GNA at Google. He was additionally instrumental within the launch and progress of datamena as a world digital hub, whereas at du. Beneath his management, datamena was established because the premier regional connectivity ecosystem and a world vacation spot for hyperscalers, OTT gamers, carriers and enterprises looking for seamless entry to the Center East and Africa.
WPP pronounces key world management appointments
WPP has introduced a sequence of strategic world management appointments, underscoring its dedication to delivering enhanced consumer options and driving clever progress throughout its community. Devika Bulchandani is being appointed chief working officer of WPP and Laurent Ezekiel is being appointed World CEO of Ogilvy Group and govt sponsor for WPP Open X. Moreover, Floriane Tripolino is being named CEO of WPP Open X, WPP’s bespoke company workforce devoted to The Coca-Cola Firm.
Enterprise strikes
Brandswell celebrates 20 years of making model momentum
Brandswell, a member of the Matrix Communications Group (Matrix Group), celebrates 20 years of making highly effective model momentum for purchasers throughout Africa. The company’s journey, from an on-the-ground shopper activation specialist company to its present function as a strategic associate, is a testomony to its single, unwavering focus: constructing manufacturers that forge genuine connections with individuals.
With its origins in disruptive campaigns utilizing unexplored channels, the company’s expertise working with world manufacturers like Coca-Cola, SAB and Unilever over time gave it a singular methodology rooted in direct, tangible engagement. This experience grew to become the inspiration for its evolution into an built-in model associate throughout the Matrix Group, whose philosophy is constructed on human-centric communication.
“For an company to thrive, it must be each lively and agile. After 20 years, we are able to definitively say that true model progress comes from a real reference to the patron,” mentioned Jonathan Chappé de Leonval, co-founder and govt artistic director. “That is the perception we carry to each consumer, and it’s the explanation we’ve been in a position to ship extremely efficient campaigns, constantly.”
“20 years of success are constructed on a dedication to future-proofing our purchasers,” added Kgaugelo Maphai, director of Brandswell. “We’re proud to have partnered with various organisations, from FMCG, state-owned entities like Tourism KwaZulu-Natal (now KwaZulu-Natal Tourism & Movie) and the Industrial Improvement Company, to trade leaders like Solar Worldwide’s Sunbets and PPC’s 130 birthday celebrations. Our capacity to guard a model’s integrity by means of robust artistic technique and trusted execution stays our most important providing, and we stay up for many extra years of shared achievements.”
SABC Information launches G20 Focus
Within the build-up to the G20 Summit in South Africa in November, SABC2 and SABC Information are launching a brand new TV present affairs programme titled G20 Give attention to Sunday, 7 September 2025, at 20:30.
The hour-long present will simulcast on SABC2, the SABC Information Channel and SABC Plus.
G20 Focus is an insightful, in-depth and thought-provoking dialogue programme that interrogates world leaders, thinkers and agitators on world challenges and the undercurrents of G20 points.
The sequence will likely be hosted by seasoned broadcast journalist Thulasizwe Simelane, who will likely be joined weekly by company representing numerous establishments and constituencies.
It’s going to cowl subjects starting from Reform of the World Economic system, Respect for Worldwide Regulation and the Digital Economic system, to Taxing the Wealthy, the Legitimacy of Credit score Scores Businesses and World Solidarity on Crimes Towards Humanity.
Normal Financial institution turns into first African Financial institution to pioneer TikTok search advertisements
Normal Financial institution has turn out to be the primary monetary establishment in Africa to launch TikTok Search Advertisements. This milestone displays the financial institution’s dedication to innovation and its technique of participating youthful, digitally native audiences by means of related and impactful social platforms.
TikTok Search Advertisements permit manufacturers to seem in search outcomes when customers actively search content material, creating a robust intersection between intent and leisure. By being the primary on the continent to undertake this format, Normal Financial institution showcases its forward-thinking strategy to assembly prospects the place they’re.
“With our new TikTok Search Advertisements, we’re proving that banking may be artistic. This modern strategy permits us to know our prospects higher and join with them in a really related manner,” mentioned Susan Steward, head of selling, private and personal banking, SA.
By user-generated storytelling, Normal Financial institution ensures conversations about cash really feel genuine, participating, and straightforward to know.
Working with world media company dentsu, the financial institution is leveraging TikTok’s strengths for each brand-building and efficiency advertising and marketing. Analysis exhibits storytelling-led campaigns ship considerably stronger ROI than conventional advertisements, aligning with Normal Financial institution’s imaginative and prescient of connecting meaningfully with prospects.
Visionet takes centre stage at OR Tambo’s Worldwide Gateway
Airport Advertisements has expanded its Visionet community with a brand new large-format digital billboard situated within the Worldwide Departures space of OR Tambo Airport, considered one of Africa’s busiest world transit hubs. The Provantage firm’s strategic new web site strengthens its capacity to ship premium visibility and high-impact messaging at a key second within the worldwide traveller journey.
Visionet is a high-impact, portfolio of large-format digital billboards accessible in South Africa, supporting Airport Advertisements’ daring technique to redefine how manufacturers interact high-value, high-income audiences. Positioned in one of many busiest airports in Africa, the brand new billboard delivers prime model publicity to over 472 000 worldwide travellers per 30 days.
The Visionet community is offered within the busiest airports throughout the nation. These embrace OR Tambo, George, Port Elizabeth, East London, Cape City Worldwide, King Shaka Worldwide, Lanseria and Kruger Mpumalanga, offering manufacturers with seamless nationwide attain in extremely fascinating airport environments.
She Leads We Hear celebrates the ability of ladies’s management to form South Africa’s future
Throughout South Africa, ladies proceed to guide with braveness, resilience, and imaginative and prescient. But too usually, their voices stay underrepresented within the areas the place selections are made.
In recognition of Girls’s Month this August, Leap by Provantage, in partnership with the Shared Worth Africa Initiative’s Gender Equality Unit, launched SHE LEADS. WE LISTEN, a marketing campaign devoted to celebrating ladies’s management and amplifying the voices which are shaping our future.
Displayed throughout high-visibility out-of-home platforms in airports, malls, and transit hubs, the marketing campaign reached tens of millions of South Africans with a message that’s each easy and pressing: when ladies lead, society strikes ahead.
“SHE LEADS. WE LISTEN. will not be about including one other company voice; it’s about making area for girls’s voices to be seen, heard, and valued,” says Tanya van Tonder, advertising and marketing govt at Provantage.
Tiekie Barnard, CEO of the Shared Worth Africa Initiative, emphasised: “Equality can’t be achieved by means of phrases alone. When ladies lead, industries thrive, communities rise, and societies remodel. SHE LEADS. WE LISTEN. is not only a slogan, it’s a mandate and a name to motion for each organisation, to ship seen, measurable change that proves ladies’s management is recognised, valued, and acted upon.
Microsoft companions with GovTech 2025
Microsoft South Africa introduced its lead sponsorship of the GovTech 2025 convention, highlighting its ongoing dedication to supporting digital and AI transformation throughout South Africa’s public sector. As governments worldwide grapple with evolving citizen expectations, Microsoft’s participation highlights its function as a trusted associate in delivering safe, accountable, and modern expertise options that improve service supply, enhance citizen engagement, and drive operational effectivity.
“Our sponsorship of and participation at GovTech 2025 displays a deep dedication to supporting South Africa’s digital authorities agenda,” says Lerato Mathabatha, Public Sector Director at Microsoft South Africa. “We’re not simply offering expertise – we’re partnering with authorities to construct a extra environment friendly, responsive, and citizen-centric public sector that leverages AI and cloud applied sciences responsibly and ethically.”
eVOD now on android TVs
eVOD, South Africa’s homegrown streaming service, has introduced that it’s now formally accessible on Android TV. This marks a major milestone in eVOD’s mission to carry premium native leisure to extra screens and extra properties throughout the nation.
After months of improvement and planning, the platform’s TV app has come to fruition, giving viewers the complete eVOD expertise from the consolation of their sofa. Whether or not you’re watching in your telephone, pill, desktop, or now in your Android Sensible TV, eVOD is correct there with you—wherever you’re.
“Our Android TV app gives a clean, premium viewing expertise, matching—and in some instances exceeding—what customers already get pleasure from on cellular and desktop. This has been a long-term objective for us, and we’re thrilled to lastly ship it,” says Junior Qwabe, eMedia’s chief expertise officer
eVOD isn’t stopping there—plans are underway to develop the platform to different main Sensible TV companions within the close to future.
Polygon to carry third-party verification to programmatic DOOH throughout Africa
Polygon, Africa’s largest aggregated programmatic digital out of dwelling (DOOH) writer community, has introduced the mixing of Seedooh’s verification expertise into its digital billboards in South Africa and later, throughout the continent.
It will permit advertisers to evaluate their marketing campaign’s advert play efficiency and supply in opposition to targets in actual time, with out being reliant on the media proprietor to relay this information, says Remi du Preez, Managing Director at Polygon.
“Advertisers are more and more calling on media homeowners and writer networks to undertake unbiased verification in order that we are able to report extra overtly, and it was vital for us to supply our advertisers with a trusted resolution.
“The Seedooh integration allows Polygon to supply elevated transparency to advertisers on our community, offering complete and nuanced third-party information from a good firm that’s recognised as a world chief in unbiased verification.”
Since launching to market in 2017, Seedooh has supplied a best-practice, 100% correct, totally automated and extremely safe expertise resolution to independently confirm promoting supply within the OOH trade – a requirement that has since turn out to be customary in quite a few abroad markets.
Circulate unlocks commerce media potential for South Africa’s high retailers and platforms
Circulate, the commerce media platform, is enabling exact, closed-loop promoting campaigns powered by verified first-party information from a few of the nation’s largest commerce companions.
Companions already on board embrace Woolworths, Zapper, Howler and MoreCorp (The Professional Store and Cycle Lab) and plenty of extra – representing industries from retail and e-commerce to occasions, sports activities, magnificence, meals and drinks, vogue and hospitality.
Utilizing Circulate’s expertise, these companions are activating their high-value shopper audiences throughout main digital channels, turning wealthy buyer information into highly effective, measurable campaigns.
By Circulate’s Commerce Media providing, companions can supply their retailers and vendor manufacturers entry to a whole bunch of lively viewers segments , constructed on years of transactional and behavioural information. This permits extremely related focusing on to loyal consumers who’re already primed for buy.
Incubeta acquires RocketSource to develop human-centred AI capabilities
Incubeta has introduced the acquisition of RocketSource, a consultancy identified for its proprietary frameworks that present the inspiration for AI-driven transformation throughout advertising and marketing information, evaluation, and activation. The transfer expands Incubeta’s human-centred AI choices and strengthens its capacity to ship measurable, performance-driven advertising and marketing outcomes by bringing collectively machine and behavioural logic supported by confirmed frameworks.
“This acquisition differentiates Incubeta by accelerating our capacity to ship superior AI options at a time when many rivals are nonetheless creating their methods,” mentioned Alex Langshur, CEO Americas, Incubeta. “It considerably enhances our AI maturity, serving to advertising and marketing leaders harness AI not simply to maintain tempo, however to outperform.”
“Advertising and marketing leaders have to ship near-term outcomes, while pivoting to adaptive, AI-driven automation,” mentioned Jacques van Niekerk, Group CEO, Incubeta. “This acquisition is a key pillar of our technique to assist our purchasers outperform, equipping them with AI options that break down silos, unlock richer buyer insights, and ship speedy outcomes and set them up for generative progress.”
Adidas and the long run Audi F1 workforce announce multi-year partnership
Adidas has prolonged its dedication to motorsport with the announcement of a multi-year partnership with the long run Audi F1 Crew. Set to debut forward of the 2026 season, the gathering will mix cutting-edge expertise and culture-shaping design from two icons of sport efficiency.
The partnership will see adidas and the long run Audi F1 Crew work hand in hand to create a full vary of high-performance, style-driven product designed for drivers, mechanics and the broader workforce. Created with the newest adidas expertise the gathering will introduce a brand new perspective on motorsport tradition and proceed to carry a recent strategy to the paddock and past.
MotionAds reaches R20 million in supplementary earnings for unbiased riders
MotionAds, South Africa’s pioneering supply bike promoting platform, has unlocked greater than R20 million in supplementary promoting revenue for unbiased supply drivers in simply six years. This milestone, reached alongside almost tripled marketing campaign progress since 2022, cements MotionAds’ place as one of many nation’s fastest-growing media corporations.
What started in 2019 with simply three branded bikes has expanded right into a nationwide fleet of over 2,000 branded bikes. This mannequin delivers measurable model impression whereas concurrently placing additional earnings instantly into the pockets of supply drivers – generally known as “Movement Mavericks” – on high of their common supply work.
“From the beginning, we believed MotionAds would solely succeed if it labored equally for 2 teams: our model purchasers and our riders,” mentioned Jon Berkowitz, co-founder of MotionAds. “Reaching R20 million in supplementary driver revenue proves that promoting spend can each gas financial upliftment and ship ROI for manufacturers.”
MotionAds operates on a “double backside line” precept: each marketing campaign should ship commercially and create tangible profit for drivers.
To keep up this steadiness, the corporate hosts month-to-month regional inspections the place high quality management meets neighborhood constructing. Riders obtain model coaching and car assessments, share suggestions, and join with each other. Manufacturers are sometimes invited, additional strengthening ties between advertisers and the individuals powering the campaigns.
For drivers, the supplementary MotionAds revenue acts as a buffer serving to them cowl necessities throughout quieter supply intervals.
WPP companions with the MACH Alliance to supply world purchasers a blueprint for AI-driven trendy advertising and marketing
In a transfer to assist enterprise companies as they implement AI at scale, WPP has introduced a world partnership with the MACH Alliance, a not-for-profit trade physique advancing composable enterprise structure to assist organisations undertake transformative applied sciences and future-proof their companies.
The partnership brings collectively WPP’s established world-class, MACH-certified experience inside AKQA, Ogilvy One and VML beneath a unified world membership and functionality for purchasers worldwide.
The expanded partnership instantly addresses a essential problem for contemporary companies; successfully combine highly effective AI instruments and applied sciences into their advertising and marketing and commerce experiences. Many organisations are looking for higher agility and adaptability to innovate quickly and reply to an evolving digital shopper journey.
WPP will associate with the MACH Alliance members and communities in shaping future finest practices and defining new trade requirements for AI adoption and integration, making certain that purchasers can get best-in-class expertise options which are match for future function.
Uncover Sport and Tennis South Africa announce pioneering partnership to raise tennis protection
Following its profitable launch to market on 2 September, Uncover Sport has introduced a brand new three-year partnership with Tennis South Africa (TSA) that can carry South Africa’s premier tennis competitions totally into the highlight.
By this collaboration, Uncover Sport turns into the official streaming associate of TSA, enabling followers nationwide and overseas to attach with South Africa’s high gamers and competitions throughout digital and broadcast platforms.
Stephen Watson, founding father of Uncover Sport, mentioned: “Our function has all the time been clear: we’re right here to allow. Tennis South Africa has unimaginable athletes and competitions, and our function is to offer them the stage to attach extra followers with the sport, and to make use of expertise to make tennis extra seen than ever earlier than. We consider sport has the ability to unite and encourage. This partnership is a step in the direction of making a extra inclusive sporting panorama in South Africa and past.”
Exabeam extends confirmed insider risk detection to AI brokers with Google Cloud
At Google Cloud’s pioneering Safety Innovation Discussion board, Exabeam, a frontrunner in intelligence and automation that powers safety operations, right this moment introduced the mixing of Google Agentspace and Google Cloud’s Mannequin Armor telemetry into the New-Scale Safety Operations Platform.
This integration provides safety groups the power to observe, detect, and reply to threats from AI brokers appearing as digital insiders. This visibility provides organisations perception into the behaviour of autonomous brokers to disclose intent, spot drift, and shortly determine compromise.
Making strikes
Penquin makes use of AI to carry kids’s tales to life this World Literacy Day
In a pioneering transfer that merges cutting-edge expertise with social function, Penquin has introduced the launch of its modern Penquin Youngsters AI Guide Collaboration. The initiative, unveiled in celebration of World Literacy Day, leverages the ability of generative synthetic intelligence to create unique kids’s books, with the goal of addressing South Africa’s urgent literacy hole.
Beneath the newly launched Penquin Youngsters sub-brand, the company has dedicated to printing and distributing the books to kids and oldsters by means of socio-economic improvement organisations, a direct contribution to its broader CSI technique.
“Penquin Youngsters represents our long-term dedication to kids’s schooling, creativity, and well-being,” explains Ryan Nofal, co-managing director at Penquin. “Launching it with such a significant venture feels proper. We’re displaying that businesses like ours can use our abilities, instruments, and fervour to uplift communities in sensible methods.”
The Penquin Youngsters AI Guide Collaboration is a first-of-its-kind initiative that noticed workers from throughout all departments, from copywriters and creatives to account executives, finance clerks and human assets, come collectively to co-create a sequence of unique kids’s books. The venture was designed with a twin function: internally, to construct AI literacy and confidence throughout the company, and externally, to display how synthetic intelligence can function a robust artistic enhancer slightly than a substitute for human creativeness. This initiative additionally marks a major milestone, celebrating Penquin’s twenty fifth birthday and reinforcing its core values: Daring, Inventive, Purposeful, Progressive, and Accountable.
5FM 5 Breakfast Heritage Tour: the very best of Mzansi and one other world document
The 5 Breakfast Heritage Tour is again for the eighth time. Themed From Streetlights to Starlit Nights – Suzuki Guides The Method Dwelling, this street journey is a celebration of every thing that makes South Africa dwelling – the breathtaking landscapes, the indulgent flavours, the colorful languages, the foot-stomping beats, the fascinating tales, the thrilling adventures and, after all, the attractive individuals.
Almost a decade after Nick Hamman first launched this iconic tour as the final word love letter to South Africa, the 5 Breakfast workforce is hitting the street once more, broadcasting from quite a lot of areas to remind us why we love this nation.
The 2025 version of the 5 Breakfast Heritage Tour formally kicked off on the Pageant of Motoring on the Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit in Johannesburg, with 5FM broadcasting reside from the occasion. Between now and 27 September, the 5 Breakfast workforce will journey throughout the nation, visiting iconic landmarks, uncovering hidden gems, and sharing the tales that make South Africa extraordinary.
MANCOSA and Jacaranda FM announce inspiring enterprise breakfast line-up
Jacaranda FM and MANCOSA are proud to announce the return of their extremely anticipated Enterprise Breakfast, a flagship occasion designed to encourage and empower South Africa’s subsequent technology of leaders. Now in its third yr, the occasion continues its legacy of offering a platform for inspiration, empowerment, and networking, bringing South Africans face-to-face with a few of the nation’s high leaders, innovators, and trailblazers.
This yr guarantees to be no totally different, with a dynamic line-up of audio system who will share their tales of resilience, innovation, and legacy-building.
- Grace Harding, CEO of Ocean Basket
- Graeme Codrington, the globally recognised futurist
- Patrick Lambie, the previous Springbok rugby legend turned property developer
- Mamokgethi Phakeng, businesswoman, philanthropist, and former Vice Chancellor of UCT
Tickets accessible now through iTickets right here: https://itickets.co.za/occasions/483813.
Girl of Stature Basis to host Skilled Collective Summit 2025
The Girl of Stature Skilled Collective has introduced the second version of its Skilled Collective Summit for 2025, an immersive one-day management expertise themed “EvolveHER – Reworking the Future By Girls’s Management.”
Going down on Thursday, 2 October 2025, at Lodge Sky in Sandton, this flagship gathering will unite influential ladies throughout industries – from company executives and entrepreneurs to change-makers and professionals – for a transformative day designed to encourage, equip and empower.
With its highly effective programme, the EvolveHER Summit is not only a convention, however a celebration of wholeness and genuine management – aligned with the 2025 Skilled Collective theme of “WHOLENESS”. Attendees will likely be inspired to combine who they’re with what they do, and rise as leaders who affect their industries, communities, and the world.
- Venue: Lodge Sky, Sandton, Johannesburg
- Date: Thursday, 2 October 2024
- Time: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Tickets: R900 click on right here for ticket purchases
- Programme: Keynote, panel periods, workshops & networking
